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Nuggets waiting for bench to get going

Denver's second unit has had slow start to season

By Christopher Dempsey The Denver Post

Posted:
12/02/2012 11:07:10 PM MST

DENVER -- For simplification purposes, we'll call it the J.R. Smith/Al Harrington position. It is a big-time reserve perimeter scorer, 14 to 16 points a night off the bench, with an accent on long-range points.

The Nuggets had it once. They are searching for it again.

Nuggets coach George Karl likes his bench well enough. Ask him about punch from the pine and he'll say he likes Andre Miller, Corey Brewer and JaVale McGee. A perplexed look came across his face when quizzed about finding a night-in, night-out reliable perimeter scorer. On Sunday, he chose to talk about the players off the bench as a group.

"I think our first three guys off the bench are pretty consistent," Karl said. "Who I put into that mix and add to that mix at times is performance-related. Sometimes it's matchup-related."

Translation: It's a work in progress.

The organization bent over backward in the summer to get guard Jordan Hamilton ready for just such a role. The second-year player was given the greenest of lights during summer league to display an ability to score, and in particular, nail a 3-point shot, which the Nuggets knew they so desperately needed.

And he did.

But, 17 games into the season, Hamilton is finding it difficult to become the team's main reserve perimeter scorer due to a lack of court time.

"Anytime that I get out there, I just try to make the best out of my opportunity," Hamilton said. "We're not in a good place right now, because we're not winning games, but besides that I'm trying to do whatever I can right now to help the team.

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A Nuggets second unit that last season was one of the top two or three in the league has struggled out of the gates this season. Last season bench players averaged an NBA-high 41.5 points, an NBA-high 18.9 rebounds and an NBA-high 10 assists. Those numbers are down, across the board (37.1 points, 15.8 rebounds, 7.4 assists). And yet, with a guard such as Miller running the second unit, the assist numbers would be higher -- if someone would consistently make a shot.

Harrington was that guy last season. At 14.2 points per game and a credible threat from the 3-point line, he played so well that he put himself in the conversation for the sixth man of the year award. For all of his headaches he gave Karl, Smith averaged nearly 14 points per game over two seasons, 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. On many nights he was downright deadlines from 3-point range.

Corey Brewer is now the Nuggets' answer to a player in that role, although Karl is more often than not just piecing it together on a nightly basis while searching for the hot hand.

But this was supposed to be Hamilton's job. At least the Nuggets groomed him in the offseason to take it and run. He's the Nuggets best 3-point shooter, but Karl has found enough flaws in his game that he has given Hamilton sporadic playing time, at best.

"He's probably our best technical shooter," Karl said. "He still doesn't quite comprehend how to get shots. I think he's used to being the first option, but he's the third or fourth option. But he can shoot and rebound on a big-time level."

One unintended result has been the insertion of rookie Evan Fornier into many more games than anyone -- including the coaches -- would have predicted prior to the season.

"Jordan is playing well. Evan is playing well," Karl said. "I think people will be surprised by how many minutes they get by the end of the year."

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